Figuring out your mobile escape game pricing strategy can be tricky, but it can also be pretty easy. I was just pitching a potential client on how easy it is to get started and thought this deserved its own post.
Think it through:
- 15-minute game, 5 minutes to reset and prepare next group.
- That’s 20 minutes each game rotation meaning 3 games an hour.
- 4 players each game at $5 a head.
- That’s (4×5)x3 = $60/hour
- Say you spend $100 on design, $200 on supplies, and $50 for the site/location where you are running the game
- $350/60 = 5.8 ~ 6 hours. So you need to run the game for 6 hours to cover your basic costs.
- Go to a farmer’s market, or an all-day event (8 hours) and you’ll even make yourself some profit!
- Plus now you can take that game to another event, and it’s all profit from there!
This obviously doesn’t consider many factors:
- Staffing cost – because who pays themselves?
- But you should definitely have 2 people working said event.
- Transport – how far away is the event? Should you consider mileage costs?
- Do you have a tent?
- How do you draw them in? How do you get them back to your facility?
- Low-balling these costs? For me, no they’re pretty accurate – but they may not be for you! If you’re planning on setting up at a Comic Con style event, you may be looking at a few hundred dollars+ for your 10×10 space.
Other things you could do?
- $10 a head, but $5 off if you book at your facility
- $5/10 for 2 players, with a 2-player game
- Play for a donation – if it’s a charity focused event. No profit made but it’s for charity so suck it up.
- Instead of a full game, have some puzzle boxes set up and players can play for $1 or $2. In Canada we call that a Loonie or a Toonie.
- Have the event pay you! Charge a flat fee for being at an event, and then players play for free.
- This is a post all on its own
- How do you price it?
- Who provides what?
- Custom or standard game?
- What types of events?
Aaaanywho. Just thought I’d throw these thoughts down on a Friday afternoon. Hopefully, you’re moving into a game-booked weekend at your escape facility!
Check out these other posts on mobile/mini-games:
Business of Pop-Ups – Critical Analysis Stream of Consciousness
Portable Pop-Up Escape Room Games
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